Sedation - quick question!

[Piggywaspushed]

I am due to have a hysteroscopy under sedation next Monday (not GA).

My letter is very general and only says specifically that if having a GA you need someone with you for 24 hours.

Doctor Google is equally vague.

I am in the position that for unrelated (but also medical) reasons I have just had 2 1/2 weeks off work and am due back just a few days before this procedure.

Obviously, I am taking the day of the procedure itself off and getting a lift home.

The question is- has anyone had this done before ? Were you OK to go to work the day after a sedation? (I'm aware the hysteroscopy itself may cause bleeding and pain issues).

I am a teacher so any time off work is a pain in the backside. No option to WFH or move leave about, obviously.

I'm a teacher. I was told not to be in children of children for 24 hours after sedation for a different procedure. Did t know beforehand and ended needing therefore to take the following day off which was annoying as I’d scheduled it for my non working day (part time)

Right. Interesting. You will know what a PITA this it too. I'm secondary and teach a very awkward subject for setting cover!

Depends a bit on what they mean by sedation, but advice is usually that you should have someone with you for 24 hours & no driving/signing important documents in that time (exactly the same as for a GA).

I was sedated for a colonoscopy last year, and was worse the day after than the day of.

Right, OK. That was not clear to me beforehand. The only thing I can find is something that says you can't drive but you possibly can work. Which is not helpful.

I was prepared for the idea thta I might get physical effects such as cramping from the procedure itself.

In what way?

I used to work in a field where we routinely gave sedation. We advised that ideally you’d be supervised for 24 hours afterwards, minimum of 6. Key thing is you’re not to drive for 24 hours post sedation because your judgment can be impaired (you wouldn’t be insured). I’d plan to have the day off. You might feel a bit spaced out and sore.

I have not had this procedure but I do think you ought to plan a few days off.
Not specifically for the sedation but for the procedure itself. You are having surgery.. they will fill your abdomen full of air and remove bits! You could be sore the next few days. I think it's wise to plan a bit of recovery time.
I didn't know they did hysterectomys without a GA.. isn't that incredible?
It's annoying they don't prepare you for how you'll be after isn't it?. The not knowing what to expect is difficult.

I would definitely book the day afterwards off- fellow teacher. Concious sedation is bad enough the next day in terms of tiredness and needing to sleep it off but a GA will be worse. Plus, you are likely to be sore and uncomfortable from the procedure and the after effects. If you have any trapped wind it can be very painful. Easier to arrange cover than to go in, feel terrible and have to leave early.

Depends on the drugs and on you. I’ve had profopol/fentanyl sedation a few times and gone back to work in the afternoon - no important decision making, but my cognitive function for writing papers was just fine. Business as usual the next day.

Recommend focusing on hydration - you should be able to drink clear fluids (including lucozade sport) up to 2 hours before your procedure time. If your instructions say different, call the clinic to clarify - often the notes are overly cautious and contrary to latest research. You’ll feel better for it, and it will speed up clearing the drugs from your system.

Hysteroscopy is examination of the womb and cervix, not a hysterectomy.

OP is having a hysteroscopy not a hysterectomy, very different surgeries!

Yes, I just had a GA at 2pm a few weeks back and hadn't drunk anything apart form the allowed sips since 6am. I was SO dehydrated!

OK, this is helpful. I wish the letter they sent out was clearer. It is written to cover all cases but only specifies post 'op' info about GAs.

Must. stop. teacher. guilt.

We had it in our leaflets but I think a lot of people missed it or ignored it. But yeah, if you have an accident while under the influence of sedation you wouldn’t be covered by insurance. You know that compulsion to do weird things like throw something like your phone in a lake? You might not be able to resist it! One time after sedation, I thought I was fine. Made a cuppa carefully, carried it from the kitchen to the living room. Picked it up and poured it all over the arm of the sofa! 😂 I watched my hand and thought ‘What did you do that for?’. My hand felt detached from brain!
Take the day off to recuperate.

I had mine with GA (after a previous one with nothing at all which was fucking hideous), but have had colonoscopies under sedation. Tbh I felt more 'with it' the day after the GA than after the sedation. Take the day off.

If your employer will be difficult you might be able to get the clinic to write you a letter to that effect?

Hope all goes well

I’ve had many colonoscopies with sedation for nearly all of them. Whilst I do follow the rule of having someone with me for 24 hours, I’ve always felt fine within a few hours and the last time even went for a lunch and a walk after I left the hospital.

Each time I did take the following day off from work, just in case I did feel rough but fortunately I didn’t.

My next one is in two weeks and I suspect this post will come back and bite me in the arse and I’ll feel awful now!

I would say definitely take the day after off as well.

I'm secondary, my advice about cover is don't fret over it. In my 23 years of experience in a variety of schools kids either don't do it, do it but don't learn it, someone changes it, or it gets lost. Either way you always end up re teaching. Stick with revision tasks like revision clocks, make flash cards, textbooks and q&a. And don't waste time overthrowing it.

Yes, I do agree. Trouble is they had mocks last week so stuff like revision filler activities were all set for cover when I was off a couple of weeks ago. And, you're right, the buggers didn't do it.

They won't be difficult, actually: they'll be fine . It's me fretting!

I had sedation for a colonoscopy recently.
I felt perfectly fine afterwards and the next dat but was told not to drive, sign documents or supervise children for 24 hours

Highly unlikely to do a hysterectomy with just sedation. You would most likely need GA for several reasons - also up to six weeks off work. Are you sure this is what you’re having? (Not a hysteroscopy?)

Yes, it's a hysteroscopy. That's what it says in my OP!

Op is sure what procedure she's having, hence saying hysterOSCOPY quite clearly in the first line of the op

Often they use a short acting benzo, which leaves you a little groggy for an hour or so afterwards. Obviously I've not had your specific procedure but if it is that type of sedation then I'd have thought you'd be fine to work the next day.
Obviously play it by ear, which is difficult as a teacher as you don't want to leave them short handed. But unless the hospital tells you it's unsafe I'd say it's fine.